Three months to Naba Das murder: BJP targets BJD as Crime Branch still tight-lipped over motive  

Even though three months have passed since the brutal killing of Odisha cabinet minister Naba Das, the probing agency Crime Branch is yet to divulge the motive behind the killing of the heavyweight BJD leader leaving everyone in the dark in the state.

Launching a broadside on the ruling BJD, the BJP on Saturday raised questions over the snail-pace Crime Branch probe into the sensational killing of the top BJD leader and accused the probing agency of trying to prove that the prime accused Gopal Das is 'mentally unstable'.

Addressing the media, the saffron party spokesperson Manoj Mahapatra said, “There are several questions in the minds of the Jharsuguda residents regarding the motive behind the killing of their representative, Naba Kishore Das. But the one, who will be representing BJD in the bypoll, is yet to question the progress in the Crime Branch probe.”

“The prime accused Gopal Das is in judicial custody not in Crime Branch’s custody. Then how the Crime Branch could write the letter to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (NIMHANS) to conduct a test of Gopal Das’ mental state again? Who directed the probing agency to write the letter? Is it CM Naveen Patnaik or the Crime Branch on its own?” Mahapatra questioned.

Reacting to BJP’s allegation, BJD said the matter should not be politicised as the Crime Branch is probing the sensational case from various aspects.

“When the daughter of Naba Das is contesting the bypoll, the matter should not be polticised. The government is taking all necessary steps to reach the conclusion of the murder case,” BJD MLA Shashi Bhusan Behera said.

It is worthwhile to mention here that, Naba Das died hours after allegedly being shot by Gopal Das near Gandhi Chhak at Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district on January 29.